I decided to kick myself out of ketosis for this challenge so that I could “restart” with all of you.

That wasn’t exactly my original intention because I rarely EVER eat off plan anymore…

It all started with this odd exchange at McDonald’s on my way home from Charlotte on Tuesday. I stopped to grab a coffee and do a bit of work (wi-fi!) before I headed out for my 6-hour road trip.

I originally ordered a black coffee, then changed my mind and said “I’ll have a large iced coffee with sugar free vanilla.” But when I got to the window and sipped it… I said, “Are you SURE this is sugar free??”

It tasted a little TOO good to me. He asked the lady, she said yes, he said yes – but then winked and said “But a little cheat won’t hurt now and then.”

I still don’t know if that coffee was REALLY sugar free or not, lol – but he planted that seed in my head and I pondered on that for awhile.

I considered being on the road alone for 6 hours. What if I were diabetic, epileptic, etc? In that case, a little cheat WOULD hurt – and could hurt other people if you’re driving in an unstable condition.

I stay in nutritional ketosis for health reasons myself, but fortunately mine is less severe. I have a lower back injury with inflammatory arthritis that flares up into extreme pain, fibromyalgia like symptoms and swelling of the legs and feet.

Anyway, I decided to go just go ahead and do the deed with a new challenge starting the next morning. And sadly I didn’t even knock myself out of ketosis with anything GOOD lol, just a sandwich of all things. 🙄

By the time I got home after six hours on the road, my toes were puffy and my feet and ankles were swollen like I was 13 months pregnant. Ack!

I’m so glad I didn’t knock myself out of ketosis before my trip to Charlotte – or it would have ruined my three nights of dancing! 😛

Here was my Blood Ketone Reading the next day (Wednesday at 3:37pm to be exact). “Lo” meaning ZERO – or that my ketone levels were too low to even be detected:

You’ll notice that Protein is only 14% of my total daily calories, yet I had 72 grams of protein. The recommended daily amount of protein for women is 46 grams a day. So while I’m eating “high fat” I’m also getting *plenty* of protein.

This is why you can’t go by grams, but rather have to go by ratios or percentages. See this link for a detailed explanation & illustration of proper macro ratios:

I also had 5 coffee’s with Coffee-Mate Sugar Free Hazelnut Powdered Creamer.

Confession: I could NOT stay out of that granola (lol) so you’ll notice two servings of it snuck it’s way into my food diary! 😉

Here’s how I logged those meals…

Thursday’s MyFitnessPal Food Diary

1612 Calories
21 Net Carbs
Protein: 87 grams
73% Fat, 22% Protein

Confession #2: I ended up having two MORE servings of the Keto Granola later – after I took that screenshot of my food diary.

So add two more net carbs (1 net carb per serving).

This stuff is addictively delicious! 😉

Interestingly, I fully “keto tested” all four flavors of this low carb granola before I recommended it. I did a full 72 hour “clean test” on each flavor, eating only super simple foods otherwise and getting my body at optimal ketone levels – then keeping a close eye on my ketone levels before and after.

With every single flavor and every single test, my blood ketone levels would rise – they would actually IMPROVE – from eating the granola! 🙂

Between Wednesday late afternoon to late Thursday night (1:17am), less than 36 hours later, I went from ZERO ketones to being fully back in ketosis.

Anything 0.5 or higher is IN ketosis.

That is the FASTEST that I’ve EVER gotten back into ketosis. It usually takes me close to if not a full 72 hours (three full days).

I don’t know what else to credit that to other than the amazing granola, lol.

Everything else I ate was my super simple normal daily foods when I’m at home and busy at work. Plus I’ve seen those same results consistently every time I’ve tested it. Go figure!

My absolute FAVORITE flavor is the Peanut Butter Macadmia Granola. It’s like fresh baked cookies and delicious as a snack straight out of the bag – and absolutely perfect as keto cereal!

I think I could live on that stuff, lol 😍

This is my discount link, by the way. It’s not cheap, but gosh it’s a nice treat!

Anyway, that’s what I’ve been eating for the last two full days and how I logged everything that I ate – meeting my ideal keto macros in MyFitnessPal.

I hope that proves helpful, both to give you some simple low carb meal & snack ideas, and also how to log them.

I’m so glad you’re finding it easy and enjoying my tips. Way to go, Jess! You’ll reach your goal in no time, and it will be SO worth it. 😉

Just keep in mind that during week 2 and/or 3 you’ll see a “hold” on the scales. That is totally NORMAL. It’s just your body adjusting to the initial weight loss. So keep doing what’s obviously working so well for you and power right through that. 😉

So glad you told me that. The food is so filling! I have always avoided fats because I was taught it would make you fat. It doesn’t seem to be the case. I am learning so much and am excited to learn more from you.

I was off my program and gained 10 lbs. but after only 6 days back down with only 1 lb. to go from were I left off. and only 35lbs. till I hit my goal. I just ordered the granola you recommended. but I also wanted to let you know about another
granola that I punched about 2 months ago and it was also very good. It’s called ProGranola from Julian Bakery. and they have a few different flavors as well. So check them out.

Thank you, Doris! I’ve heard about it quite a bit and people say it’s good, but I’m wary about Julian Bakery after a bad experience with their bread – and some legal trouble they got into a few years ago over mislabeling. I’ve just never wanted to try any of their products again.

I also really like that Lolli’s is a small family owned business and the granola is fresh baked in small batches. It’s not mass produced or warehoused, so it tastes like fresh baked cookies straight out of the oven when you get it. 🙂

But thank you, because I *have* heard good reviews about the JB brand… I’m just skeptical about them after MY experience. lol

I had some wings from the hospital I worked at and something told me they might not be good. That was Friday evening. Saturday morning I was 0.4, Sunday morning lo (first time ever) today Monday morning 1.0!!!!!! Wow right!?!?! I’m still in shock

When you click this link: http://lollislowcarbgranola.com/lowcarbtraveler it will automatically add the LOWCARBTRAVELER coupon code in at checkout. That’s 10% off. If you order more than $60 and want to use the free shipping code instead, just swap them out and see which one works out best for your order. 😉

All material provided on this site is intended for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace professional medical advice. Please consult your physician before starting any diet or exercise program.